Wedding photographer disappeared
Discussion
So, we got married in November and chose a photographer off the net. We went to see him, managed to get a reasonable deal.
I started getting a bit paranoid about him after we'd signed the contract, firstly because he wanted payment up front which was £500, and secondly the "studio" was in a bit of a rough area. I was worried he wouldn't turn up at the wedding. However, he did and took the photos, seemed to know what he was doing from my limited knowledge. Spoke to him at the end of the night, thanked him and said he be in touch within a month with the edited photos.
Cue this thread, as we've had very little contact with him since, we first rang him and he said the pictures would be up by the friday (this was pre-christmas). we've messaged him a few times, the first response was he'd been in hospital and he'd be back next week (we sent our message to him new years eve day). The second message was on the 3rd, asking him tolet us know when the photos would be online and if he'd sent the DVD out. He didn't reply to this message.
The third message, on the 4th which was the day before 2 months had passed since the wedding, was sent to confirm the day before's message. He replayed saying "hi, soz was in hospital again, they should be online when I get back to the studio this week. "
We sent our next message on the 10th, we said "hi, have had a look on the Internet and can't find our photos yet? It has been over two months now and we have still not received the DVD either. Could you please tell us when it will bedone as you said one month, and it has been over two."
He texted us back on the 10th saying "hi not been well enough to get to studio yet"
We've sent multiple messages from the 20th to the 30th, and have received no reply at all from him. Called numerous times to see if he would talk instead, no dice.
We started to look into him a bit online, and he has 2 websites for photography. One by his name, and one by the name of his "studio". My dad is retired so ran the errand for us, and nipped round the studio to try and see him. No one about, so he went into the shops next door and asked about him. They said several things, firstly that a fair few people had been looking for him. Secondly that they believe he'd changed his mobile number relatively recently, and thirdly that photography was his second job as they believed he works for BT also.
Now, we don't know where we stand, financially we're out of pocket and haven't recieved the service we paid for, and he seems to be taking all effort to avoid contact with us. We googled his name, and have come up with a home address and telephone number for the photography business under his own name.
Google maps street view was interesting on the postcode as it brought up the house next door's number, and on street view you can see a BT van sitting outside between the two semis, on the road. My dad decided to try the home phone number (I'm crap with confrontational circumstances, and struggle not to stutter a bit at the best of times!) to be told that he didn't live there (didn't say anymore though) by a woman, although she did take my dad's name and number?
Further googling tonight has revealed that apparently he and his wife run A golden retriever kennel business (i think basically rearing pedigree puppies and selling them) which has their names on the page, with the same home phone number as the photography number we found, and his mobile number that we currently have.
My question is what can we do currently? He's claimed being ill, but talking to the shops either side especially about the change in mobile number are making me very suspicious, the same with the lady answering the phone saying he doesn't live there, and a brief search on the net with electoral roll has his name at that address (not paid for, so don't know when he lived there)
I'd be disappointed if we don't get the photos, but I want my money back if he's not going to give us them.
I started getting a bit paranoid about him after we'd signed the contract, firstly because he wanted payment up front which was £500, and secondly the "studio" was in a bit of a rough area. I was worried he wouldn't turn up at the wedding. However, he did and took the photos, seemed to know what he was doing from my limited knowledge. Spoke to him at the end of the night, thanked him and said he be in touch within a month with the edited photos.
Cue this thread, as we've had very little contact with him since, we first rang him and he said the pictures would be up by the friday (this was pre-christmas). we've messaged him a few times, the first response was he'd been in hospital and he'd be back next week (we sent our message to him new years eve day). The second message was on the 3rd, asking him tolet us know when the photos would be online and if he'd sent the DVD out. He didn't reply to this message.
The third message, on the 4th which was the day before 2 months had passed since the wedding, was sent to confirm the day before's message. He replayed saying "hi, soz was in hospital again, they should be online when I get back to the studio this week. "
We sent our next message on the 10th, we said "hi, have had a look on the Internet and can't find our photos yet? It has been over two months now and we have still not received the DVD either. Could you please tell us when it will bedone as you said one month, and it has been over two."
He texted us back on the 10th saying "hi not been well enough to get to studio yet"
We've sent multiple messages from the 20th to the 30th, and have received no reply at all from him. Called numerous times to see if he would talk instead, no dice.
We started to look into him a bit online, and he has 2 websites for photography. One by his name, and one by the name of his "studio". My dad is retired so ran the errand for us, and nipped round the studio to try and see him. No one about, so he went into the shops next door and asked about him. They said several things, firstly that a fair few people had been looking for him. Secondly that they believe he'd changed his mobile number relatively recently, and thirdly that photography was his second job as they believed he works for BT also.
Now, we don't know where we stand, financially we're out of pocket and haven't recieved the service we paid for, and he seems to be taking all effort to avoid contact with us. We googled his name, and have come up with a home address and telephone number for the photography business under his own name.
Google maps street view was interesting on the postcode as it brought up the house next door's number, and on street view you can see a BT van sitting outside between the two semis, on the road. My dad decided to try the home phone number (I'm crap with confrontational circumstances, and struggle not to stutter a bit at the best of times!) to be told that he didn't live there (didn't say anymore though) by a woman, although she did take my dad's name and number?
Further googling tonight has revealed that apparently he and his wife run A golden retriever kennel business (i think basically rearing pedigree puppies and selling them) which has their names on the page, with the same home phone number as the photography number we found, and his mobile number that we currently have.
My question is what can we do currently? He's claimed being ill, but talking to the shops either side especially about the change in mobile number are making me very suspicious, the same with the lady answering the phone saying he doesn't live there, and a brief search on the net with electoral roll has his name at that address (not paid for, so don't know when he lived there)
I'd be disappointed if we don't get the photos, but I want my money back if he's not going to give us them.
The first question is what do you want more? The money back or the wedding photos. I take it there's an unpaid balance still to pay?
Given that it's wedding shots, I think what you probably want first of all is the imagery from the Wedding. In any state.
Multiple messages and recorded letters to every number/address permutation you can find - offering an amnesty from small claims action for the money already paid if he provides the photos - state that he doesn't have to process them, just give them to you in the format they were shot (hopefully RAW). His path of least resistance is to simply provide the images - IF he is genuinely ill then he might be quite glad to do this and get one worry off his back.
You can then take those photos to another tog to have post-processed properly (using the balance that you've not yet paid this guy) - lots of talented pro togs on the PH Photography Forum would be pleased to quote I'm sure.
Alternatively, if you can confirm his address (lots of PHers have access to elecoral roll & may be able to help here) then fire off a small claim (do it online, there's a fee but you add that to the claim) and unless he's a habitual fruadster, it should have the desired effect on his lower bowel...
In your position though, I'd say my 1st consideration would be getting the wedding photos, I know how much trouble I'd be in if I ever damaged the album!
And congratulations btw, all the best people get married in November!
Given that it's wedding shots, I think what you probably want first of all is the imagery from the Wedding. In any state.
Multiple messages and recorded letters to every number/address permutation you can find - offering an amnesty from small claims action for the money already paid if he provides the photos - state that he doesn't have to process them, just give them to you in the format they were shot (hopefully RAW). His path of least resistance is to simply provide the images - IF he is genuinely ill then he might be quite glad to do this and get one worry off his back.
You can then take those photos to another tog to have post-processed properly (using the balance that you've not yet paid this guy) - lots of talented pro togs on the PH Photography Forum would be pleased to quote I'm sure.
Alternatively, if you can confirm his address (lots of PHers have access to elecoral roll & may be able to help here) then fire off a small claim (do it online, there's a fee but you add that to the claim) and unless he's a habitual fruadster, it should have the desired effect on his lower bowel...
In your position though, I'd say my 1st consideration would be getting the wedding photos, I know how much trouble I'd be in if I ever damaged the album!
And congratulations btw, all the best people get married in November!
Thanks for the reply, been massively busy so only just got round to replying!
Unfortunately on the money side of things, his contract specified we had to pay up front, which as I said, smelt fishy to me. But the mrs said that was the way it was, and she'd been doing the majority of the wedding organising so I though she knew what she was doing
We're going to his shop tommrow to see if we can catch him out, as he apparently works for BT so is mainly only at the shop at weekends. If he doesn't show, then we're going to try the home address we have, see if whomever answered the phone, was lying when they said he didn't live there. Knocking on a neighbours door first to see if they'll confirm he lives there.
Is anyone able to help me out with the electoral roll? Would be handy, but will pay for it if it comes to it.
Cheers
Unfortunately on the money side of things, his contract specified we had to pay up front, which as I said, smelt fishy to me. But the mrs said that was the way it was, and she'd been doing the majority of the wedding organising so I though she knew what she was doing
We're going to his shop tommrow to see if we can catch him out, as he apparently works for BT so is mainly only at the shop at weekends. If he doesn't show, then we're going to try the home address we have, see if whomever answered the phone, was lying when they said he didn't live there. Knocking on a neighbours door first to see if they'll confirm he lives there.
Is anyone able to help me out with the electoral roll? Would be handy, but will pay for it if it comes to it.
Cheers
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